Harper Government also announces continuing fee freeze for 2012 at Parks Canada sites
Ottawa, Ontario, November24, 2011 -- The Honourable Peter Kent, Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, today released a report, entitled The Economic Impact of Parks Canada, detailing Parks Canada’s substantial economic contribution to Canada’s economy, at the Tourism Industry Association of Canada’s (TIAC) 2011 Tourism Congress.
“The Economic Impact of Parks Canada report shows that the federal government is a major player in Canada’s tourism industry and that our investments have a profound impact on the economies of local communities,” said Minister Kent. “This long-term competitiveness and growth illustrates the Federal Tourism Strategy’s vision for Canada, resulting in new opportunities for increased revenues and employment in every region across Canada.”
Parks Canada is Canada’s largest provider of natural and historic tourism products. The destinations it manages form the cornerstones of the Canadian tourism industry. The report reveals that the annual expenditures made by Parks Canada and the millions of visitors to Canada’s national parks, national historic sites, and national marine conservation areas make a substantial and widespread contribution to the Canadian economy, through job creation and revenues generated for local businesses.
These expenditures contributed $3.3 billion to the Canadian economy in 2008-2009, with more than 80% of that money being contributed by visitors to Parks Canada sites and their local communities. Spending by foreign visitors accounted for over 40% of all visitor spending at almost $1.2 billion, representing a substantial amount of new money injected into the Canadian economy.
The Minister also announced today that most Parks Canada fees will continue to remain frozen at 2008 levels for an additional year, in the midst of the current global economic uncertainty, until at least March 31, 2013 (March 31, 2014 for commercial operators). This includes, for example, all of the fees that visitors pay for entry to the parks and sites, for staying at the campgrounds, for mooring their boats or for using the locks at the historic canals. Parks Canada continually assesses economic and market factors to determine when and to what extent any fee increases will be considered.
Throughout 2011, Parks Canada is celebrating its Centennial and its continuing role as a world leader in the protection and presentation of natural and historic heritage. Each year, millions of visitors enjoy real and inspiring experiences at destinations managed by Parks Canada.
Parks Canada works to ensure Canada’s historic and natural heritage is protected and, through a network of 42 national parks, 167 national historic sites, and four national marine conservation areas, invites Canadians and people around the world to engage in personal moments of inspiring discovery at Canada’s treasured natural and historic places.
For additional information, please see the full report and backgrounder at www.parkscanada.gc.ca.
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Information:
Office of the Minister of the Environment
819-997-1441
Media Relations
Parks Canada
819-953-8371
www.twitter.com/parkscanada
